The GTK-Vault

To Lasik or Not to Lasik…

On August 30, 2023

That is the question when one has had enough of glasses, contact lenses, and blurry vision. Whether to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, LASIK is the most popular elective eye surgery used to treat these ailments. However, while elegant in its simplicity, it isn’t right for everyone.

A while ago, I considered undergoing the procedure. Following the promise of a cozy life free of glasses and contacts, I dug into the rabbit hole. I went from how it works and how it emerged to its risks, costs, and true capabilities. I share my findings in this article in the hope that those interested in LASIK can discover the basics at length.

Eliminating Periods with Hormonal Contraceptives

By Senyanze Kalla

On November 6, 2021

In Body & Health

The possibility of eliminating periods with hormonal contraceptives had never occurred to me until January 2019, when the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare updated its guidelines on combined hormonal contraception. The update highlights the lack of health benefits of the 7-day hormone-free interval and states that women can safely skip it to avoid menstruating. A short Google search uncovered the fact that many users of the combined pill were already taking it without pause.

Prompted by this new information, I also went ahead to discover that the use of the combined pill without pause isn’t the only method to eliminate periods. While other hormonal contraceptives offer this possibility too, this isn’t exactly common knowledge.

So in this piece, I explore the menstrual cycle, the safety of eliminating periods with hormonal contraceptives, the different options, and the benefits of living period-free.

Social Identity and Patriotism

By Senyanze Kalla

On August 8, 2021

In Humanities

The Olympics are there “…to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play”. One could say that the moment South African Tatjana Schoenmaker won gold at the 200-meter breaststroke swimming competition represents this spirit perfectly.

It’s amazing how, despite heightened patriotism, competitiveness, and rivalries between nations, moments of good sportsmanship and camaraderie abound.

In this article, I reflect on this phenomenon with the help of Social Identity Theory (SIT) and explore the many ways individuals experience patriotism.

The Truth About Contact Lens Lifespan: Planned Obsolescence or Eye Health?

By Senyanze Kalla

On July 25, 2021

In Body & Health

Good eyesight doesn’t come cheap—and contact lenses are a perfect example. They rarely feel ‘used up’ when their official replacement date arrives. Maybe you’ve stretched a daily lens into three days, or worn your monthly pair for an extra couple of weeks. If nothing felt wrong, it’s natural to wonder: are we simply being nudged into buying new ones more often than necessary? Could this be a subtle case of planned obsolescence?

Or is there more to the story?

Limescale Formation and Removal

By Senyanze Kalla

On July 17, 2021

In Science

Last week, my to-do list hit me with one of those reminders that makes you just sigh:

“Descale Coffee Machine.”

Not exactly glamorous, but apparently adulthood means penciling in quality time with your kettle and coffee maker. So, armed with a bottle of descaling liquid, a jug to catch the runoff, and a podcast queue long enough to outlast the whole ordeal, I got to work.

But here’s the fun part: descaling isn’t just about saving your coffee from tasting weird or keeping your appliances alive a little longer. That hard, chalky, white crust we call limescale isn’t just ugly on faucets and tiles — it’s the byproduct of fascinating reactions between heat, water, and minerals.

Once you understand what’s really going on behind those chalky white stains, you stop seeing limescale as just an annoying crust to scrub off. It’s basically a chemistry demo happening in your sink, kettle, or coffee machine — and the more you know, the better you can prevent it, fight it, and even save your appliances from an early retirement.

So, let’s zoom in on how limescale actually forms, starting from something as ordinary as the water coming out of your tap.

From FM to Wi-Fi: The Invisible Waves That Keep Us Connected

By Senyanze Kalla

On July 5, 2021

In Technology

I can’t remember the last time I tuned in to an actual radio station. Back in my teenage years, my parents showed me how to record songs from the radio onto a cassette. Then piracy and MP3s swept in, and radio faded from my life.

It wasn’t until I heard a podcast outro — “This is a podcast from detektor.fm” — that I suddenly wondered: What the heck is FM?

That tiny question led me down a rabbit hole into the world of modulation and carrier waves — the century-old tech quietly powering everything from your phone calls to your Wi-Fi.

Do We Really Need Three Meals a Day? History, Myths & Hunger Science

By Senyanze Kalla

On June 14, 2021

In Body & Health

“You need to eat three meals a day; otherwise, your teeth will fall out.”

That was my husband’s brilliant theory during one of our afternoon walks. According to him, chewing is what keeps teeth in place—skip a meal, and they’ll tumble right out. A Brothers Grimm explanation for modern nutrition if there ever was one.

As funny as it sounds, his story got us thinking: why do we believe in the three-meal-a-day rule at all? Who decided breakfast, lunch, and dinner should rule our lives? In this article, we’ll explore the surprising history of the three-meal day, why our hunger cues aren’t as fixed as we think, and whether our bodies actually need this schedule.

The Optimal Leisure Lifestyle

By Senyanze Kalla

On May 26, 2021

In Humanities

The modern culture of overwork is alive and well. Hustle. Grind. No rest.

Emails at midnight. Weekend “side hustles.” That nagging guilt when you’re not “productive.”

Most of us know that living like this can only lead to burnout. Yet despite growing awareness of the benefits of leisure, many still feel shame when taking a weekend—or even a day—off.

It wasn’t always this way. For most of human history, leisure and work existed in a different balance, with free time seen as essential to a meaningful life. This article explores the history of work and leisure, reveals how society’s values shifted, and introduces the optimal leisure lifestyle—a framework that helps you reclaim rest as a source of creativity, wellbeing, and purpose.

Generative Design in 3D Printing: A Blueprint for Innovation

By Senyanze Kalla

On May 14, 2021

In Technology

Generative design in 3D printing is more than a clever pairing — it’s a manufacturing revolution. This combination cuts costs, speeds up prototypes, and makes possible shapes no traditional method could create. Whether you’re an engineer, designer, or simply curious about the future of making things, understanding how these two technologies work together can spark ideas for your own projects and reveal where industry is headed.